Memoirs of a Geisha English Movie
Memoirs of a Geisha is based on the book by the same name written by Arthur Golden. Set in the 1920s, in a fishing village of Kyoto in Japan, the film opens on a dark and rainy night, when two sisters, are sold away by their impoverished father. Their sick mother a mute witness is unable to do anything.
A narrative in first person by the younger sister, 9 year-old, Chiyo, the film tells the story of her life as a Geisha. Geishas we are told are artistes who entertained men. Her older sister is sent to a brothel while she works as a maid in a Geisha house
This Geisha house is run by 'Mother' played by Kaori Momoi and its ruling geisha is Hatsumomo ( Gong Li) who takes an instant dislike to Chiyo. Chiyo be-friends Pumpkin ( Youki Kudoh), a girl about her age living with them. Often Hatsumomo plots to get the little girl in trouble. Chiyo's efforts to escape are futile. When she hears that her sister had escaped without her and that her parents were no more alive, she resigns herself to fate.
Once Hatsumomo gets Chiyo into trouble by asking her to scribble in black paint on a beautiful kimono presented to her rival Geisha, Mameha and leave it at her door. The little girl is punished. Hurt and sad, Chiyo stands upon a bridge looking down into the water, when a kind young man known as Chairman walks up to her. He buys her crushed ice. As he walks away with a Geisha, Chiyo resolves to become a Geisha and win the Chairman's heart. Until then she treasures the handkerchief that he has left behind.
Chiyo enters her teens and blossoms into a beauty. Mameha purchases her from mother in order to train her into a Geisha. It is a beautiful relationship that grows between the two and the older woman teaches her dance and music and of course the intricacies of pleasing a man. On the other hand, Hatsumomo decides to train Pumpkin driving a wedge between the two childhood friends.
Chiyo is christened Sayuri and is ready to be presented to society. At a sumo wrestling match, she catches the attention of Nobu, a businessman and a friend of the Chairman, whom she still secretly loves. Certain that he doesn't recognize her now after so many years, Sayuri places her business first. She becomes the most sought after Geisha now much to the chagrin of Hatsumomo and Pumpkin.
The time is now ripe to bid Sayuri's virginity for the highest price. Following World War II, she is rescued by the Chairman and despatched to the countryside. And seeking her help comes Nobu the businessman who asks her to don the garb of a Geisha once again to seek favours from the Americans for a business contract.
Her love for the Chairman persists in her heart. Does she ultimately win him forms the crux of the story.
Memoirs of a Geisha offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of the Geishas, where women are trained to beguile the men and where love is scorned as an illusion. Japan in all its rich finery of silk kimonos and graceful women comes alive before the audience.
Excellent photographs complemented by good acting by the cast, especially Zhiyi Zhang as Sayuri and Gong Li as Hatsumomo. Michelle Yeoh as Mameha, a concerned mother like figure to Sayuri deserves commendation. While the men Ken Watanabe, Koji Yakusho play their role as the Chairman and Nobu the businessman, with ease, the mantle of the film rests on the three women, Sayuri, Hatsumomo and Mameha.
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